023: From Actuarial to InsurTech Founder and Imposter Syndrome Along the Way with Bijal Patel

Summary

Bijal Patel, co-founder and CTO of Aurora, shares her journey from actuarial to digital commercial InsurTech. She discusses the importance of finding happiness in work and how to navigate career transitions.

 

Bijal also opens up about imposter syndrome and the challenges of being a leader in a startup. She emphasizes the value of building a strong culture and the power of reaching out to others for inspiration and guidance.

 

Takeaways

• Finding happiness in work is crucial for career satisfaction.
• When considering a career change, focus on what you enjoy and what brings you value.
• Building a strong culture and values is essential for a successful team.
• Imposter syndrome can be overcome by recognizing your strengths and focusing on your intentions.
• Reaching out to others for guidance and inspiration can lead to valuable connections and opportunities.

Thanks to Send (https://send.technology/) for sponsoring this this episode.

Send is an award-winning insurance software company. It’s flagship product is an AI-enabled Underwriting Workbench – a single platform from submission to bind, and beyond. The platform helps commercial and specialty insurers around the world drive greater efficiency, control and effectiveness. It has rich out-of-the-box functionality, workflow templates for over 40 lines of business, and proven deployments in multiple geographies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:09 Choosing Actuarial Role

06:10 Transitioning to Commercial Insurance

08:10 Finding Happiness in Work

09:20 Building a Network and Exploring Options

10:32 Transitioning to a Startup

14:11 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

15:47 Developing Confidence

19:09 Becoming a Leader

20:18 Finding Your Leadership Style

23:13 Building a Strong Culture

25:05 Bringing Talent Together

27:06 The Reality of Starting a Business

29:53 Skills and Traits in Startups vs. Corporations

32:15 Advice for Your Younger Self

33:13 Opportunities in Insurance

35:07 Reaching Out and Inspiring Others